trivia

noun

triv·​ia ˈtri-vē-ə How to pronounce trivia (audio)
plural in form but singular or plural in construction
1
a
: unimportant matters : trivial facts or details
But all this is trivia. Feshbach's basic concerns run deeper.Cullen Murphy
b
: facts (as about people or events) that are not well-known
celebrity trivia
What follows is a small glossary of golf slang and trivia to help you talk as good a game as you play …Rachel Urquhart
often used before another noun
a trivia booktrivia buffs
2
singular in construction : a quizzing game involving obscure facts
often used before another noun
trivia night

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web The brewery has a locals-only feel, where food trucks park out front and serve snacks and where trivia is played weekly. Megan Dubois, Chron, 28 Feb. 2023 Users must be 18 years old and in the US to participate in the multiple-choice trivia rounds, which will be livestreamed on the official @TikTok account. Mia Sato, The Verge, 16 Feb. 2023 Knowledgeable guides pack in three hikes over seven hours and will school you in all kinds of subjects, from endangered species, like the fiery red ʻiʻiwi bird and nene (Hawaiian goose), to geology trivia about the dormant volcano. Jen Murphy, Outside Online, 29 Dec. 2022 Make plans to spend a night out at a local bar or eatery to compete with or against each other at a trivia game event while sampling the drink flight and appetizer menu. Janece Maze, Country Living, 2 Feb. 2023 Nobody wants to play a trivia game that’s too easy, nor one that’s too hard. Rob Wieland, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2022 Christina Ricci, Tony Hawk and Andy Richter are among the celebs taking part in this new trivia challenge. cleveland, 18 Dec. 2022 Christina Ricci, Tony Hawk and Andy Richter are among the celebs taking part in this new trivia challenge. Los Angeles Times, 16 Dec. 2022 Her sketches included a trivia game show, one about Beanie Babies, and another centered around the Black Eyed Peas. Brenton Blanchet, Peoplemag, 11 Dec. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'trivia.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, back-formation from Latin trivialis

First Known Use

1902, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of trivia was in 1902

Dictionary Entries Near trivia

Cite this Entry

“Trivia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trivia. Accessed 27 Mar. 2023.

Kids Definition

trivia

noun singular or plural
triv·​ia ˈtriv-ē-ə How to pronounce trivia (audio)
: unimportant matters

More from Merriam-Webster on trivia

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